The Northwest office of the Environmental Protection Agency today announced that Yardarm Knot Fisheries, which operates the Red Salmon Cannery in Naknek, has agreed to pay $11,000 to settle an EPA-issued complaint for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

While the facility has a permit to discharge its fish processing waste into the Naknek River, after a June 2003 inspection, an EPA inspector determined that the company was violating important terms of its Clean Water Act permit. Among the violations noted are:

 failure to properly treat seafood processing waste and ensure seafood wastes discharged into the Naknek River do not exceed one-half inch in diameter;

 failure to conduct daily inspections of the facilitys waste conveyance systems as required by the companys discharge permit,

 failure to maintain seafood waste conveyance systems, and

"Seafood processing is a critical element of Alaskas economy," said Mike Bussell, Director of the EPAs Enforcement and Compliance office in Seattle. "But it shouldnt be done at the expense of the environment that the seafood industry depends upon.

"Strong enforcement actions help level the playing field by forcing non-compliant operators to invest in treatment technologies and practices that their competitors have adopted in order to obey the law and protect their environment."